text:
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic (long-lasting) joint condition.
A joint is where two bones come together. The ends of these bones are covered with protective tissue called cartilage. With OA, this cartilage breaks down, causing the bones within the joint to rub together. This can cause pain, stiffness, and other symptoms.
OA occurs most often in older people, although it can occur in adults of any age. OA is also called degenerative joint disease, degenerative arthritis, and wear-and-tear arthritis.
A leading cause of disability, OA affects more than in the United States. Here's everything you need to know about OA, from treatment to prevention and more.
Osteoarthritis causes
OA is caused by joint damage. This damage can accumulate over time, which is why age is one of the main causes of the joint damage leading to osteoarthritis. The older you are, the more wear and tear you've had on your joints.
Other causes of joint damage include past injury, such as:
- torn cartilage
- dislocated joints
- ligament injuries
They also include joint malformation, obesity, and poor posture. Certain risk factors, such as family history and gender, increase your risk of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis and cartilage
Cartilage is a tough, rubbery substance that's flexible and softer than bone. Its job is to protect the ends of bones within a joint and allow them to move easily against each other.
When cartilage breaks down, these bone surfaces become pitted and rough. This can cause pain within the joint, and irritation in surrounding tissues. Damaged cartilage can't repair itself. This is because cartilage doesn't contain any blood vessels.
When cartilage wears away completely, the cushioning buffer that it provides disappears, allowing for bone-on-bone contact. This can cause intense pain and other symptoms associated with OA.
Osteoarthritis symptoms
OA can occur in any joint. However, the most commonly affected areas of the body include the:
- hands
- fingertips
- knees
- hips
- spine, typically at the neck or lower back
The most common symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
- pain
- tenderness (discomfort when pressing on the area with your fingers)
- stiffness
- inflammation
As OA becomes more advanced, the pain associated with it may become more intense. Over time, swelling in the joint and surrounding area may also occur. Recognizing the early symptoms of OA can help you to better manage the condition.
Severe osteoarthritis
OA is a progressive condition with five stages, from 0 to 4. The first stage (0) represents a normal joint. Stage 4 represents severe OA. Not everyone who has OA will progress all the way to stage 4. The condition often stabilizes long before reaching this stage.
People with severe OA have extensive or complete loss of cartilage in one or more joints. The bone-on-bone friction associated with this can cause severe symptoms such as:
- Increased swelling and inflammation. The amount of synovial fluid within the joint may increase. Normally, this fluid helps reduce friction during movement. However, in larger amounts, it can cause joint swelling. Fragments of broken-off cartilage may also float within the synovial fluid, increasing pain and swelling.
- Increased pain. You may feel pain during activities, but also when you're at rest. You may feel an increase in your pain level as the day progresses, or more swelling in your joints if you've used them a lot throughout the day.
- Decreased range of motion. You may not be able to move as well, due to stiffness or pain in your joints. This can make it harder to enjoy the day-to-day activities that used to come easily.
- Joint instability. Your joints may become less stable. For instance, if you have severe OA in your knees, you may experience locking (sudden lack of movement). You may also experience buckling (when your knee gives out), which can cause falls and injury.
- Other symptoms. As a joint continues to wear down, muscle weakness, bone spurs, and joint deformity may also occur.
The joint damage caused by severe OA isn't reversible, but treatment can help reduce symptoms.
Osteoarthritis vs. rheumatoid arthritis
OA and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) share the same symptoms but are very different conditions. OA is a degenerative condition, which means that it increases in severity over time. RA, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disorder.
People with RA have immune systems that mistake the soft lining around joints to be a threat to the body, causing it to attack that area. This soft lining, which includes the synovial fluid, is called the synovium. As the immune system launches its assault, fluid buildup within the joint occurs, causing stiffness, pain, swelling, and inflammation.
If you're not sure which form of arthritis you have, your best bet is to talk to your doctor. But you can also do your own research.
Osteoarthritis diagnosis
OA is often a slow-developing disease that can be hard to diagnose until it starts to cause painful or debilitating symptoms. Early OA is often diagnosed after an accident or other incident that causes a fracture requiring an X-ray.
In addition to X-rays, your doctor may use an MRI scan to diagnose OA. This imaging test uses radio waves and a magnetic field to create images of bone and soft tissue.
Other diagnostic tests include a blood test to rule out other conditions that cause joint pain, such as RA. A joint fluid analysis can also be used to determine whether gout or infection is the underlying cause of inflammation.
Osteoarthritis treatment
OA treatment is centered upon symptom management. The type of treatment that will help you the most will largely be determined by the severity of your symptoms and their location. Often, lifestyle changes, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, and home remedies will be enough to provide you with relief from pain, stiffness, and swelling.
At-home treatments and lifestyle changes for OA include:
Physical activity strengthens the muscles around your joints and may help relieve stiffness. Aim for at least 20 to 30 minutes of physical movement, at least every other day. Choose gentle, low-impact activities, such as walking or swimming. Tai chi and yoga can also improve joint flexibility and help with pain management.
Weight loss
Being overweight can put strain on your joints and cause pain. Shedding excess pounds helps relieve this pressure and reduces pain. A healthy weight can also lower your risk of other health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Adequate sleep
Resting your muscles can reduce swelling and inflammation. Be kind to yourself and don't overdo it. Getting enough sleep at night can also help you to manage pain more effectively.
Heat and cold therapy
You can experiment with heat or cold therapy to relieve muscle pain and stiffness. Apply a cold or hot compress to sore joints for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day.
These practices can help take the edge off of your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Exercises for osteoarthritis
Gentle stretching exercises can be very helpful for people with OA, especially if you have stiffness or pain in your knees, hips, or back. Stretching can help improve mobility and range of motion.
As with any exercise plan, check with your doctor before beginning, to make sure it's the right course of action for you.
Osteoarthritis medications
There are a number of different types of OA medications that can help provide relief from pain or swelling. They include:
- Oral analgesics. Tylenol (acetaminophen) and other pain relievers reduce pain but not swelling.
- Topical analgesics. These OTC products are available as creams, gels, and patches. They help to numb the joint area and can provide pain relief, especially for mild arthritis pain.
- NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). NSAIDs such as Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) reduce swelling as well as pain.
- Cymbalta. Your doctor may prescribe the antidepressant Cymbalta (duloxetine) for you off-label to help provide OA pain relief.
- Corticosteroids. These prescription medications are available in oral form. They may also be given by injection directly into a joint.
Your doctor may recommend you try OTC solutions as a first line of defense.
Osteoarthritis natural treatments
Alternative treatments and supplements may help to relieve symptoms such as inflammation and joint pain. Some supplements or herbs that may help include:
Other alternative treatment options include:
- acupuncture
- physical therapy
- massage therapy
Other remedies can range from taking Epsom salt baths to using hot or cold compresses.
You should discuss with your doctor any herbs or supplements you're considering before you use them. This will help ensure that they're safe and effective, and won't interfere with other medications you're taking.
Osteoarthritis diet
There's no downside to eating healthy, but if you have OA, diet and nutrition are especially important.
First off, you'll want to keep your weight in a normal range to reduce unnecessary pressure on your joints.
There's also research suggesting that some types of OA, such as osteoarthritis of the knee, respond positively to a diet high in flavonoids, which are nutrients found in fruits and vegetables. Also, the antioxidants found in many fruits and vegetables may also help combat the free radicals produced by inflammation. Free radicals are molecules that can cause cell damage.
A high-quality diet may help provide relief from OA symptoms by reducing inflammation and swelling. Eating foods high in the following can be highly beneficial:
- vitamin C
- vitamin D
- beta-carotene
- omega-3 fatty acids
Increasing your intake of foods with anti-inflammatory properties will help, too.
Osteoarthritis in your hands
Osteoarthritis can affect one or several areas of your hands. These areas often include the tips of the fingers, the middle knuckle of each finger, the joint connecting the thumb and the wrist, and the wrist itself. The joints that are affected largely determine the symptoms that occur. These symptoms often include:
- stiffness
- pain
- swelling
- redness
- weakness
- trouble moving your fingers
- reduced range of motion
- crunching sound when you move your fingers
- trouble gripping or holding onto objects
Women are more prone to OA in the hand than men, and usually get it at a younger age. Hand OA can have a big impact on your ability to do the tasks associated with day-to-day living. However, treatments ranging from lifestyle changes to surgery can help.
Osteoarthritis in your hips
OA can occur in one or both hips. In this way it differs from RA, which usually occurs in both hips at the same time.
Hip OA is a slowly degenerative condition. Many people find that they're able to combat their symptoms for many years by using medication, exercise, and physical therapy. Supports, such as canes, can also help.
If the condition worsens, steroid injections, other medications, or surgery can help provide relief. Alternative therapies can also help, and new technologies are on the horizon.
Osteoarthritis in your knees
Like hip OA, knee OA can occur in one or both knees. Age, genetics, and knee injury may all play a role in knee OA.
Athletes who concentrate solely on one sport that creates extensive, repetitive motion, such as running or tennis, may be at increased risk of OA. Likewise, if you pursue only one type of physical activity, this may overuse some muscles and underuse others, causing weakness and instability in the knee joint. Varying your activities helps to work different muscle groups, allowing all the muscles around your knee to be strengthened.
Treatment for knee OA depends on the stage of the condition.
Osteoarthritis knee brace
Wearing a brace around your knee can be an excellent nonsurgical treatment for knee OA. Braces can reduce swelling and pressure. They can also increase stability in your knee by shifting your weight away from the damaged part of your knee. This allows for greater mobility.
There are several types of knee braces. Some may be custom fitted for you, and others are available OTC. Your doctor may recommend that you try different kinds of braces for different activities.
Cervical osteoarthritis
Cervical OA is also referred to as neck OA or as cervical spondylosis. It's an age-related condition that affects more than 85 percent of people over the age of 60. It occurs in both men and women.
The cervical spine is located in the neck and contains facet joints. These joints help to maintain flexibility in the spine, allowing for a full range of motion. When the cartilage around the facet joints starts to wear away, cervical OA results.
Cervical OA doesn't always cause symptoms. If it does, symptoms can range from mild to severe and include:
- pain in your shoulder blade, down your arm, or in your fingers
- muscle weakness
- stiffness in your neck
- headache, mostly in the back of your head
- tingling or numbness down your arms or legs
Occasionally, more serious symptoms can occur, such as loss of bladder or bowel control, or loss of balance.
Spinal osteoarthritis
If you have back pain, you may have spinal osteoarthritis. This condition affects the facet joints located in the lower back and buttocks. Age and spine trauma are both potential factors in spinal OA. Women are more likely than men to get this condition. People who are overweight, or whose jobs require squatting and sitting, may also be at increased risk.
Spinal OA's symptoms can vary in severity. They include:
- stiffness or tenderness in the joints in your back
- weakness, numbness, or tingling in your arms or legs
- reduced range of motion
It's important to pay attention to these symptoms. If left untreated, spinal OA can worsen, causing more severe symptoms and disability.
Osteoarthritis prevention
You may have risk factors for OA that you can't control, such as heredity, age, and gender. But other risk factors can be controlled, and managing them can help reduce your risk of OA.
The following tips can help you manage the risk factors under your control:
- Support your body. If you're an athlete or an avid exerciser, make sure you care for your body. Wear athletic supports and shoes that reduce impact on your knees. Also make sure to vary your sports, so that all of your muscles get a workout, not just the same muscles every time.
- Watch your weight. Keep your body mass index (BMI) in the appropriate range for your height and gender.
- Keep a healthy diet. Eat a range of healthy foods, with a focus on fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Get enough rest. Give your body ample opportunities to rest and to sleep.
If you have diabetes, controlling your blood sugar can also help manage your risk of OA.
Osteoarthritis outlook
OA is a chronic condition that doesn't have a cure, but with treatment, the outlook is positive. Don't ignore symptoms of chronic joint pain and stiffness. The sooner you speak with your doctor, the sooner you can receive a diagnosis, begin treatment, and improve your quality of life.


text:
NO to Halal pic via: facebook.com/sinhalarawayapage |
Having tasted victory over the Halal certification issue the Bodhu Bala Sena(BBS) organization is to begin another widespread campaign targeting the Muslim community on the issue of attire worn by Muslim women in Sri Lanka.
The co-founder and head of the Ethno-Religious Fascist Organization Ven.Kirama Vimalajothy Thera has announced that the Bodhu Bala Sena will commence a fresh campaign before March 31st 2013 against the form of dress covering the body that is worn by many Muslim women in Sri Lanka.
The Bodhu Bala Sena(BBS) is expected to make details of its campaign known at the Mass rally to be held in Kandy on Sunday March 17th.
Vimalajothy Thera expressing happiness over the decision by the All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama(ACJU)to stop Halal certified Logos on Products domestically also stated that the BBS would like the entire Halal certification process scrapped in the future.
Currently the ACJU will issue Halal certificates free of charge for products catering to the Export market if requested by the manufacturers.Locally, Halal Logos will not appear on products.
Incidently the BBS lit crackers in many urban areas in the outstations to celebrate the Halal victory. Many of these incidents occurred near Muslim owned mercantile establishments.
Notice for forthcoming BBS meeting on their website |
The BBS Leader however emphasised that while being elated over its triumph on forcing the ACJU to suspend Halal certification locally, the Bodhu Bala Sena will continue with its activities untiringly. The BBS will now commence with fresh vigour a specific campaign against the attire of Muslim women.
Though various types of clothing are worn by Muslim women in Sri Lanka, the dress that has aroused the wrath of the Bodhu Bala Sena is that which is worn to cover the whole body.
Among the forms of feminine clothing are the scarf covering the head known as "Hijab" , the veil covering the face known as "Niqab" and the loose robe like overgarment covering the whole body known as "Abaya"in Arabic, "Burqa" in Urdu and "Purdah" in Persian.
The Bodhu Bala Sena target at present is the Abaya dress of Muslim women covering the whole body.
The BBS will begin a widespread campaign in Sri Lanka demanding that Muslim women should stop wearing the Abaya in public as it hurts and affects the sensibilities of the non –Muslim population that amounts to 91% of Sri Lanka.
The perverted logic applied here is the same as that in the Anti-Halal campaign where it was questioned as to why 91% of Sri Lankans should buy and Consume Halal certified products.
Gotabhaya with BBS leadership ( pic: defence.lk) |
The Bodhu Bala Sena which enjoys the support of Defence and Urban Development secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has been conducting a multi-faceted anti-Muslim campaign under the pretext of opposing Halal certification.
A familiar feature of public speeches by BBS leaders including Vimalajothy Thera and General Secretary Ven.Galaboda Attha Gnanasera Thera had been the virulent view expressed against the Abaya or Burqa dress worn by Muslim women. All sorts of vulgar remarks and derisive comments were made against women wearing such clothing.
Both Vimalajothy and Gnasara Thera flouted principles of Vinaya by viciously attacking the Muslim women wearing such dresses. One description repeated frequently on BBS platforms was "Goni Billa" (scary person in a sack) Since the Abaya covered the whole body of the women, the BBS speakers called it "Goni Billa" in a manner that appealed to low tastes of people.
These derogatory speeches have already begun to impact on some misguided Sinhala youths. There have been scattered incidents where Muslim women in Abaya clothing have been the target of caustic,offensive remarks.Attempts have been made to yank the clothing by street urchins in a few places.In one instance the grand niece of a Veteran Muslim political leader wearing Abaya was spat upon in broad daylight on a public road.
The most serious incident was in the Southern Province at Dikwella near the Mahanama bridge where three
Muslim girls in Abaya attire were attacked and injured slightly. Complaints were made to the Police who said that no further investigation was possible due to unavailability of Eyewitness reports.
According to Islamic theologians one of the plus points in wearing the Abaya is that it prevents exposing the female body to unrelated males thereby minimising the potential for unwarranted sexual arousal and temptation. In that context it is indeed amusing to see respected Buddhist Priests wedded to the notion of celibacy being in the forefront of a campaign urging Muslim women to discard the Abaya.
Although the BBS is expected to formally commence the Anti-Abaya campaign on March 17th in Kandy,posters have already begun to appear in different parts of the country. Many of these have crude and vulgar words.
It may be recalled that Defence Secretary Gotabhaya had told the ACJU that the BBS had indicated to him that it would not proceed with further its anti-Muslim campaign if the Halal certification process was discontinued. This was a crucial factor in the decision made by the ACJU to scrap Halal labels locally.
It now appears that the Bodhu Bala Sena as in the case of most Fascist movements has not been truthful in this. The Halal victory has only whetted its appetite for more triumphs in its on going anti_Muslim activity. The Anti-Abaya campaign by the Bodhu Bala Sena will fuel the fire of communal discord further and increase insecurity among Muslim women.
– DBS.http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/18140
DBS Jeyaraj can be reached at [email protected]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Summer Gas Prices May Not Be As Outrageously High As You've Been Led to Believe — Dollars and Sense
Many analysts predicted doom and gloom for gas prices this summer, with some saying they could reach as high as $6 per gallon.
But it seems those concerns were for naught -- fuel costs have been on the decline and are now expected to stay well below last year's prices.
Thanks to lower oil prices and less demand, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) believes gas prices will average just $3.79 per gallon this summer. That's a bit more than than the current national average of $3.75, but still less than the almost $4.00 Americans were paying last month -- and at this time last year.
That's not just good news for drivers -- it's good news for the economy in general. Since our money won't be going into gas tanks, it'll instead be spent in other ways. Kay Smith, a senior economist at EIA, said the group estimates that a 10-cent drop in pump prices can add roughly 0.1 percent to disposable household income.
But bear in mind that if consumer demand increases, gas prices will, too. On average, Americans have been purchasing less gas for more than a year now -- so if that changes, expect costs to rise.


text:
Wineries on Twitter Meet Sojen Cellars
The goal of this series is to connect with wineries and wine business that use Social Media (Twitter and Facebook) effectively. Meet Everett winery, Sojen Cellars and see how they're using Social Media to connect with new and old friends. These interviews can serve as a catalyst to help other wineries and wine businesses to see the benefits (and pitfalls) of joining the social revolution.
SoJen on Web ** On Twitter ** On Facebook
How long have you been using Twitter?
Sojen Cellars has been on Twitter through Max or I for about six months.
What prompted you to dive in?
Max started tweeting and was creating new contacts and meeting people in the industry. I began tweeting and we were connected with Russell Lowell, a very old friend from our DiStefano days. Twitter showed us that this media opens a door to create relationships with people in our industry and possible business opportunities.
What type of strategy or approach do you use when posting content?
We post information to give tweeters the chance to see what is going on in our business life; from events at the winery or winemaker dinners at a restaurant as well as club information or how people can participate in the winery.
What have been the benefits of using Twitter/Facebook? (Increased traffic, increased brand awareness, customer connection, etc)
We have met new people and created new relationships that have brought new faces to SoJen Cellars as well as connected Max and I with people who want to help promote our business.
Is there a single success story that you can point to with using Twitter/Facebook?
Max starting tweeting with @SeattleWineGal and @DivaTink and those ladies opened up the door to meet them at Russell's Dining in Bothell. Max and I knew who the owner was and that we hadn't seen him in a long time but when we walked in the door, the General Manager recognized Max and hadn't seen him in almost 10 years. That connection reconnected Max and I with some old Woodinville friends (Max was former winemaker at DiStefano Winery for many years). It also allowed us to reconnect with Russell and have the amazing opportunity to have a winemaker dinner there and invite new and old friends to attend. Social media allowed us to access people that we didn't have access to by phone or email.
What do you think is the single biggest barrier to why we don't see more wineries actively using Social Media tools?
TIME! It takes time to read tweets and think about what you really want people to know about you and your business. Many of us have other jobs or started out having other jobs. Managing two to three jobs and then finding time to peruse Facebook or tweet is a lot to swallow.
What advice would you give to wineries joining the stream or getting back into the stream?
Meet as many people as you can in your field, have meaningful conversations; be intentional about what you post and then revel in the results!
Briefly tell us about your winery, a new release, or something unique about you?
Max and I own SoJen Cellars in Everett after 5 years of making wine in the garage in Lake Stevens and a decade of experience in the field. We are a true husband and wife team with both of us winemaking and managing the tasting room. We focus on blends that are versatile to be paired with food and can stand alone to be enjoyed. We also have the capacity to do custom blends for restaurants and private events. Our story is unique since both of us have a passion for wine in different capacities. Max and I met 12 years ago on AOL (before there was a charge for internet dating) I was working in Sonoma County at a wonderful restaurant that provided me many opportunities to work with wine and food pairing and catering. Max was a cellar rat at Silver Lake and then was introduced to Mark Newton and joined his staff at DiStefano. Through the love of food and wine, Max and I were somehow brought together. It was one email from me to him that started it all. His AOL screen name was Winos3. I loved it! I wrote to him "I like your screen name" That was the email that changed me life forever.
What is your favorite rock band and why?
The Beatles because no matter how old you are, you love them!
2 comments on "Wineries on Twitter Meet Sojen Cellars"
Sip with Me! Nice! I love the back story of how those two met… very sweet and a great personal example of the doors that social media opens up.


text:
International festival of music, mixed media and experimental electronic art
- Explore through the knowledge of digital recording techniques the universe sound belonging to the "places";
- Discuss some aspects of the use of specific material in electronic and instrumental composition.
Localization of sound in the environment focuses on the theme "sound mapping" as a social and cultural identity and, at the same time, an expression of conscience and personal feelings, whereas its use in music opens important interdisciplinary horizons.
The workshop's aim is to provide an introduction to theory and practice of the main mobile sound recording techniques and the use of sound sources in different fields, from sound design to cinema, from digital editing to the use of digital sources in instrumental composition, electronic music and live electronics. Music compositions and musical excerpts from field recordings will also be introduced, listened and discussed. All members are invited to participate in the soundwalk along the neighborhood "Isola" in Milan and thus contribute during the workshop to the creation of a small sound map of the place. The pieces obtained at the end of the workshop will be diffused through a multi-channel audio speakers setup and then available to the public in the form of soundscape composition.
Speakers: Alessandro Massobrio (ITA), Fabio Orsi (ITA), Natasha Barrett (ENG)
Curated by Matteo Milani, Federico Placidi (U.S.O. Project) and Domenico Sciajno
Documents available online
Costs and subscription
To participate in the workshop you must register (spaces are limited) no later than 23/10/2010 and pay the fee (€ 60.00).
For more information about the workshop and registration, please write to workshop [at] antitesi [dot] org or visit the Facebook and Twitter page.
Payment methods
- PayPal
- Money transfer
All subjects and activities of the workshop/laboratory are addressed at the introductory and preliminary level, combining theory and practice with some helpful audiovisual material. Members are encouraged to get involved actively, having discussion and bringing in their experience. Participants will be guided, if weather conditions permit, in a short sound-geo path through the "Isola" neighborhood in Milan and invited to contribute to the creation of a work of the soundwalk. It does not require any special technical knowledge and/or music. However, the knowledge of digital audio recording/editing basics can be an advantage.
The workshop is devoted for those sound designers, musicians, composers, sound engineers and experts who would consolidate and compare their experience in an environment of exchange and sharing, to all the "listening lovers" and those who have interest and curiosity about soundscape and electronic compositions.
Entry requirements
There are no special requirements. The workshop is open to all without any age limit. Entries remain open until all available seats have been booked.
- Mac/PC laptop (useful but not essential during the editing and sound processing sessions)
- owners of a portable recorder are asked to take it for the soundwalk in the neighborhood "Isola"
- Roland Italy will provide participants two digital recorders - R-09HR and R-05
The workshop will be held at:
O' | residences | photography | sound | performance
non-profit association | via Pastrengo 12, 20159 Milan (Italy)
tel +39 02 6682 3357
website: www.o-artoteca.org
O 'is a non profit organization for the promotion of artistic research, founded in May 2001 by Sara Serighelli and Angelo Colombo as O'artoteca (O' since 2008). Its activity is divided into a large exhibition space, an area of consultation and archive, and an outside lab, L.A.B.-LaboratorioArtibovisa for the production related to photography and printing. It developes exhibition projects and discussions, performances, concerts, lectures, publications; it's a place where artists can experiment, test and compete with their work.


text:
Disclaimer: this is one of those dreaded Minecraft-style questions, but I feel it's more a data structures and algorithms question
I'm really new to 3D data structures and am wondering what the best way to store and match a 3D block structure.
Right now, the player is able to place blocks in any arbitrary space and when these blocks match a pre-defined structure an event happens. The way I'm doing it currently is when a player places a block the game recursively checks each adjacent block to find the block with the lowest x, y, z coordinate and makes that block the root block. Then it checks the rest of the blocks, based off of the root block, to make sure they match a certain template. The problem is that as the template gets more complicated, so does my (terribly inefficient) code.
I'm thinking the best way to do this is to store some type of matrix that defines the structure and then match against the matrix whenever a player places a block. Are there already data structures/algorithms that would match this type of problem?


text:
Bitcoin ATM Westminster - Coinhub
Coinhub Bitcoin ATM in Westminster, Colorado
Our Coinhub Bitcoin ATM Near Me in Westminster, Colorado is available for purchasing bitcoin with cash instantly. Coinhub offers $25,000 daily limits and lowest rates for Bitcoin. Bitcoin ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) are kiosks that allow a person to purchase Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies by using cash. Bitcoin cash kiosks from Coinhub are a convenient and fast way to purchase Bitcoin and receive it in minutes directly into your wallet. Coinhub Bitcoin machines can be used quickly and easily. If you're using a Coinhub Bitcoin Machine near me, you are able to purchase Bitcoin instantly and receive it within minutes. You can purchase Bitcoin in less than 2 minutes, and you don't need an account. Simply walk up to any Coinhub Bitcoin ATM to purchase and verify. Many Coinhub Bitcoin ATMs allow you to buy and sell crypto for cash. The process of buying Bitcoin using one of our Bitcoin ATMs is as follows: First locate the closest Bitcoin ATM near you in your city by visiting our Coinhub Bitcoin ATM Locator. Enter your phone number and walk up to the machine. You will then verify your phone with a code and scan your bitcoin wallet. Enter bills one bill at a time for the amount you would like to purchase and confirm the bitcoin atm prior to purchase. The bitcoin is instantly sent to your wallet. The daily limit for buying Bitcoin is $25,000. There are Bitcoin Machines located in major cities across the country. Visit a Coinhub Bitcoin ATM today.
This Coinhub Bitcoin ATM is located within Lee Liquor at 8426 Federal Blvd in Westminster, CO 80031, USA. It allows you to buy Bitcoin at any of the following locations and near neighborhoods: Westminster; South Central Westminster, Denver; South Westminster, Thornton; South Westminster; Thornton.
Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster. The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and much of the West End shopping and entertainment district. The name (Old English: Westmynstre) originated from the informal description of the abbey church and royal peculiar of St Peter's (Westminster Abbey), west of the City of London (until the English Reformation there was also an Eastminster, near the Tower of London, in the East End of London). The abbey's origins date from between the 7th and 10th centuries, but it rose to national prominence when rebuilt by Edward the Confessor in the 11th. Westminster has been the home of England's government since about 1200, and from 1707 the Government of the United Kingdom.
Alta Vista Area, Appleridge Estates, Arbor Green Townhomes, Arrowhead, Arvada Plaza Area, Berkeley, Bishop Square Park, Bradburn East, Broadlands, Cameo Estates, Candlelight, Cobblestone Village, Cole, Cole Neighborhood Historic District, Cottages at Willow Park


text:
Here's an interesting project from several years ago. The clock design itself isn't too noteworthy, but the construction is definitely inspired. You'll notice that there is no breadboard or PCB, the frame actually is the circuit. The tubes he's using are Numitron tubes, which aren't as high voltage as Nixies or even VFDs. This means that there is only 12V maximum going through the exposed rails. He discusses some possible future upgrades such as LED or Nixie or VFD, but since this project is a few years old, who knows if he is still working with it.
[thanks Agent420]


text:
Product And Systems Training
Product And Systems Training
Your organizational needs continuously evolve, and your Motorola Solutions products and services help you keep pace with operational demands.
Our growing training portfolio can help optimize your team's proficiency. Increase the return on your investment with our versatile training solutions and best practices from our expert instructors and designers.
Our Learning eXperience Portal (LXP) provides one-stop shopping for training and documentation.
From needs analysis to course development, customization and delivery, we can design a training program that helps you configure, operate and maintain your products and systems to best fit your operational demands.
Contact us to help meet your organizational training needs.
Technical Training Courses
Product Technical Training Courses
Get trained on Motorola Solutions' latest innovations and improve your proficiency with our expanding training portfolio. Browse courses and view curriculum roadmaps specific to your Radio Solution needs.


text:
What are they? There are two candidates vying to become the "open standard" document formats for word processing files, spreadsheets and presentations: the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards' (OASIS) OpenDocument formats and Microsoft's Office Open XML Formats.
Why do we need new standards for office documents? To make it easier to extract information from documents. Both OpenDocument and Office Open XML are based on the eXtensible Markup Language (XML), a more generic Web-oriented standard for describing data in a document or form. Any XML-compatible system could read the data contained in an XML document and perform actions based on the data. For example, a company could tag electronic invoices with specific data fields (such as "part number"); then, someone could use search software that understands standard XML to, say, retrieve all documents that include a specific part number.
When will they be available? IBM and Sun Microsystems already sell office suites that handle OpenDocument formats, and other products, such as the open-source OpenOffice software, also support the standard. Microsoft's next version of the Office suite (code-named Office 12) will use Office Open XML Formats by default and is scheduled to ship in the second half of 2006.
And these are both "open" formats? That depends on what you mean by "open." OpenDocument backers say their formats, unlike Microsoft's, were developed collaboratively by multiple vendors and other groups, and are maintained by OASIS, a neutral consortium. Basically, the OpenDocument camp believes a standard format that isn't controlled by Microsoftwhich has more than a 95% share of the office applications market, according to Gartner surveys of business userswill loosen the company's grip since customers won't need to buy Microsoft Office to read or create documents. "We have broken this control point at the document level," says Bob Sutor, IBM's vice president of standards.
What's Microsoft's position? Microsoft currently does not plan to support OpenDocument. Officially, Microsoft says that's because it has not received "strong customer demand" to adopt it.
Have any organizations decided to adopt OpenDocument? Yes, the most prominent being the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which plans to standardize on the format by January 2007. The initiative was championed by the state's former CIO, Peter Quinn, as part of a policy to use only standards-based desktop software. Quinn resigned in December 2005, citing pressure from pro-Microsoft state politicians.
Is Microsoft worried OpenDocument will lead customers to switch to other office applications? Perhaps. However, Brian Jones, a lead program manager for Microsoft Office, points out that other vendors' applications, including those from IBM and Sun, are already able to read and write documents that use Microsoft's existing proprietary Office formats.
So, how "open" are the Microsoft formats? Microsoft says Office Open XML is open in that the formats conform to standard XML and that anyone can use them. Also, the company last fall submitted the formats to Ecma International, a technical standards body, for consideration as a specificationa move seen as a response to the concerns raised by the state of Massachusetts and others about Microsoft's control of formats. But Gartner analyst Rita Knox says she doesn't expect Ecma to release a specification based on Microsoft's formats until early 2007. Meanwhile, in September 2005, OASIS submitted OpenDocument for consideration as a standard to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Won't the new Microsoft XML document formats be incompatible with the old proprietary ones? Yes, but Microsoft promises that Office 12, in addition to natively supporting XML-based documents, also will be fully compatible with older formats. In addition, the company plans to release updates for Office 2000, Office XP and Office 2003 to let them read and edit Office Open XML formats.


text:
Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Employers are vital partners of the child support program. Employers work cooperatively with the child support program to ensure that children receive regular and consistent financial and medical support.
All child support orders must now include provisions for collecting the support obligation through income withholding and for providing for medical support for the child. The medical support order will require either that the child be enrolled in available private health insurance, or that the obligor pay an additional sum for a cash medical support obligation if private health insurance is not available at a reasonable cost to the parents.
If the parent is ordered to pay a family support obligation, the employer (or other source of income) will receive an Income Withholding order telling the employer how to withhold the support obligation. Please visit the Ohio Office of Child Support's resources on complying with an Income withholding order for more information.
For more information on making support payments, visit the Ohio Office of Child Support's website.
For assistance in calculating the amounts to withhold if the parent has multiple income withholding orders, visit the OCDA website, click the CALCULATOR tab and follow the instructions.
If a parent is ordered to provide private health insurance, the CSEA will send a National Medical Support Notice (NMSN) to the employer. The NMSN requires the employer to enroll the child in health insurance coverage that is available through the employer. For more information on complying with a National Medical Support Notice, visit the Ohio Office of Child Support's medical support resources website.


text:
This cartoon was passed along to me from a friend. It is the only thing that made me laugh at the plight that was the 2011 Ginter Code :)
Apparently this blog is now only devoted to the Ginter Code. I promised I'd swear off the code after they labled the puzzle cards as "code parallels" on last years packs, but I'm a glutton for punishment.
I'll be back. I really hope this year's code doesn't rely on a bread-crumb trail over a 9-month period. I love the Ginter Code and all, and puzzle solving in general, but that really took a toll on my interest last year. I don't ever want to think about another puzzle for 9 months. I already spend half my life trying to solve Kryptos.


text:
Our best-selling Zachary Cowlneck is back and in new colors! Sleek and sophisticated with a touch of tela andina on the pockets and drawstrings, this sweatshirt can be dressed up or down during the fall/winter.
Our Zacharys are tight-fit and unisex, so if you'd like a looser fit please size up one from your normal sweatshirt size. Also, check out our other colors in Blueberry, Moss, and Gris!
Care Instructions
Made from super-soft flannel cotton, make sure to turn your hoodie inside out before washing on the cold gentle cycle with similarly colored clothing. Hang to dry to prevent wear and shrinkage. (Sustainability Tip: hoodies don't need to be washed frequently, save the water and electricity!)
The Huaywasi Difference
This sweatshirt was lovingly handmade by Elena, and took 5 hours to complete. 15.44% of the final cost was attributed to labor, given directly back to the artisan. To compare, a larger fair trade brand attributed 11.33% of its final cost of a similar item to labor.


text:
"Joseph and I are going to go out there and put on a great fight and it's going to be one of the best fights of the year." - Demetrious Johnson
While fight fans already know flyweight contender Demetrious Johnson as "Mighty Mouse", another moniker would be just as applicable: "Mr. Positive".
There's really no subject involving the Octagon that the 15-2-1 talent cannot see the silver lining in. Dropping from 135 pounds to 125 pounds? Another avenue for a UFC title. Battling to a draw and, in turn, a rematch against the same top-ranked opponent in the span of three months? An opportunity for more experience and better preparation for the next fight. A reshuffling of headlining bouts due to a cancelled pay-per-view results in Johnson's title shot against Joseph Benavidez being demoted to co-main event status in lieu of the UFC light heavyweight championship fight? A perfect chance to make Jon Jones' fans "Mighty Mouse" fans.
Whether it's Johnson's natural demeanor, being secure with the insightful training guidance he receives daily from "The Wizard" Matt Hume, and/or marrying the love of his life Destiny "Mrs. Mouse" Johnson in May, he keeps on smiling and keeps on winning in the Octagon en route to his first and the company's first flyweight championship bout. To secure that title shot spot, Johnson had to best Ian McCall once and for all in their rematch at UFC on FX in June. As mentioned, Johnson had no hard feelings about facing "Uncle Creepy" again only a few months after the controversial ending of their first tussle in March. If anything, it was an excuse to get better at cutting weight and at cagefighting.
"I was happy to go and fight a high caliber fighter like Ian McCall again to get ready for a title fight against Joseph," affirms Johnson. "My feelings were good. The second time, I felt more acclimated, but I think it's going to take a lot more time to really acclimate. Dropping to 125 is a lot of weight and it's going to be something I have to get used to. This is going to be a third time doing it within a year's span. The more times I drop down to 125 the more I'll get used to it."
It was just so nice, they had to do it twice. Following their Fight of the Night-winning draw, Johnson and McCall took to the Octagon to settle the score of who would face Benavidez in the flyweight title final. While many sold the rematch being rounds four through six, it was instantaneously clear that Johnson was physically a healthier and more solid looking 125 pounder than in the first meeting. Besides the visuals, Johnson's defensive wrestling was on point as well as his cardio, which faded the first time. In the original scrap, the highlight moment was McCall in mount ending the third round, whereas Johnson's first round knockdown of McCall left the most lasting image in the rematch.
"There was a huge difference with my weight," reveals Johnson. "I felt a lot better and I even looked bigger because my body held on to its water and nutrients better. It was a great fight. I'm glad I had those two fights with Ian McCall because two high-caliber fights like that will get you prepared for anybody you fight next. I wanted to show the world that I had been working on my takedown defense, and if you take me down I'll get right back up. Obviously, I would have loved to have knocked him out, have him go lights out from that one punch, but Ian McCall is a tough guy. I want to be the best in the world and I think I showed that in that fight. I'm getting better at 125."
At only 26 years old, Johnson is at the top of the food chain in two weight classes in the UFC. Although the lightning quick, 5'3" standout has moved to flyweight, his last bout at bantamweight was for the gold against Dominick Cruz, and prior to that he was on a four fight winning streak dating back to his WEC days. Under the Zuffa banner, he has become an immediate fixture by making eight trips to the cage in two years, with his second title fight just on the horizon. For Johnson, a fighter's life is about continually training to be ready, competing as much as one can, and always striving to be better than your previous best.
"I'm young, I'm only 26 years old, and I want to stay active," he explains. "In mixed martial arts, I love to be active. I would love to take as many fights as I can while I'm young because as I get older the recovery will take a lot longer. I want to be as active as possible now, whether I'm champion or not champion. It's all about getting the fights. I pretty much train all year long just in case the UFC gives me a call telling me someone dropped out and asked me, 'do you want to take this fight?' Hell yeah, I want to take that fight! I'm here to fight. That's what you pay me to do. Every fight is the same in that you go in there and fight. Whether it is a title fight or a non-title fight, whether you win the fight or don't win the fight. You wind up back in the gym training to be better for the next one."
Up next for Johnson, the history-making inaugural UFC flyweight championship bout at UFC 152 on Saturday against Benavidez. While Johnson tangled with McCall, the Team Alpha Male stalwart faced Japanese star Yasuhiro Urushitani in March. After a grappling heavy first, Benavidez crossed the Octagon to deliver a perfect right hook on Urushitani's button, which closed the struggle out at 11 seconds into the second round. The win earned Benavidez a Knockout of the Night bonus, escalated his record to 16-2, and put him in a spot opposite Johnson in the title final.
"Joseph is a great opponent," asserts Johnson. "He's one of the best fighters in the world at bantamweight and flyweight. I'm looking to get in there and test my skills against him. He's got a great skillset and I can't wait to see how we match up against each other. Joseph is kind of straightforward. He comes out and fights you. He's a specialist. He has heavy power when he throws his overhand rights and lefts. He can switch back and forth."
On paper, it's easy to draw comparisons about two top flight fighters with nearly identical records who have both battled to a close, but losing, decisions against Cruz for the bantamweight championship and, now, find themselves staring across the Octagon for the UFC flyweight belt. And, the two became friends on a UFC publicity tour where they did see a Coldplay concert together. But, the true similarity is that they're both incredible competitors who, despite giving up a lot of size, win way more than they lose even when fighting the best at a heavier weight division. They're both strong, explosive, confident, and well-rounded, and should be an amazing test for each other.
"I think we're both great competitors and we both have a drive to win," adds Johnson. "We push ourselves. We have fought a lot of bigger guys in our career. Other than that, we have different types of striking skills and different ground skills as well. But we both have that type of determination to win. We know it's a business. We get along outside of the cage. We're both chill people. I don't think that's going to play any part in us punching each other in the face. We both know it's a business and we both want to be a part of history."
In preparation for the Benavidez brawl for the belt, "Mighty Mouse" is busy training at his home gym in Kirkland, Washington with his highly regarded coach Hume at AMC Pankration. It's the same batch of loyal and knowledgeable fighters that have honed Johnson's skills for his previous UFC outings like Trevor Jackson, but there was one new face added to the gym: Bibiano Fernandes. The DREAM featherweight and bantamweight champion was in camp for 4-6 weeks in the lead-up to his own bout, and Johnson believes he was a boon to his own training camp, "I had a lot of help from him on my ground game. He's just a beast on the ground in mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu."
Regardless of outcome, UFC 152 will be historic as one of the most exciting weight classes thus far in 2012 will crown its first ever champion. "It means the world to me to be fighting for this belt," says Johnson who has gone toe-to-toe for six rounds already to get this opportunity against Benavidez, and he will not let it slip past him without a helluva fight. "Joseph and I are going to go out there and put on a great fight and it's going to be one of the best fights of the year. I'm a hard worker and I'm always in the gym training to be better next time. Hopefully, I leave a good impression on the fans and, hopefully, I get that title."
This Saturday, two of the unquestioned best at 125 pounds will square off for gold in the greatly anticipated first ever UFC flyweight championship title fight. "Don't miss out on history being made," states Johnson, who will be the happiest person on the planet if he wins, and, knowing him, will be gracious with his chin held high and be more than ready for a rematch if he loses. Either way, he will be back in the gym with a positive attitude training to be even better next time.
UFC Performance Institute
Dana White On The Opening Of UFC PI Mexico


text:
There's expensive and then there's Hong Kong.
The Asian shopping haven in the first-quarter kept its crown as having the world's highest rent for prime retail properties, at nearly 50 percent more than for similar districts such as upper Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Rents were more than four times the rate in similar areas in London and Paris, according to a report by global property advisor CBRE Group.
The 10 most expensive cities for retailers benefit from strong demand and modest new supply, a recipe for stable record-high prime rental rates, the report released on Sunday showed. In some markets, such as Hong Kong and London, the sky-high rents have prompted some newcomers to look nearby. For example, in London, Mayfair has benefited from those priced out of Bond Street.
(Read More: Hong Kong's IPO Is Heating Up)
Annual retail rent in high-end shopping areas in Hong Kong averaged $4,328 per square foot (36,351 euros per square meter).
"Given that space is so expensive in Hong Kong's prime shopping streets largely driven by continued demand from international luxury brands, many traditional retailers have moved into more niche secondary retail locations as they still want to be in and access the market, but have been priced out of the prime space," Joe Lin, CBRE's executive director of retail, said in a statement.
New York ranked second among the most expensive global retail markets, with prime rents averaging $2,970 per square foot (24,944 euros per square meter)
Europe's prime retail markets followed, with London at $1,053 per square foot (8,843 euros per square meter), and Paris at $1,050 per square foot (8,820 euros per square meter).
(Read More: Golden Week Loses Its Shine for Hong Kong)
The supply of prime space was tight elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region. An inflow of U.S. retailers helped Sydney maintain its prime rent at an average of $1,018 per square foot (8,549 euros per square meter).
Tokyo was sixth at $895 per square foot (7,519 euros per square meter), followed by Melbourne, at $851 per square foot (7,148 euros per square meter).
Zurich came in eighth at $822 per square foot (6,905 euros per square meter). Brisbane's mining and natural resource sectors, and growing population helped push that into the top 10 with its prime retail rents up 15 percent to $739 per square foot (6,209 euros per meter). Moscow rounded out the top 10 with rents at $739 per square foot (6,203 per square meter).


text:
This article is more than 1 year old
Gatso 2: rollout of UK's '24x7 vehicle movement database' begins
ACPO's road policing swiss army knife
A "24x7 national vehicle movement database" that logs everything on the UK's roads and retains the data for at least two years is now being built, according to an Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) strategy document leaked to the Sunday Times. The system, which will use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), and will be overseen from a control centre in Hendon, London, is a sort of 'Gatso 2' network, extending. enhancing and linking existing CCTV, ANPR and speedcam systems and databases.
Which possibly explains why the sorcerer's apprentices in ACPO's tech section don't seem to have needed any kind of Parliamentary approval to begin the deployment of what promises to be one the most pervasive surveillance systems on earth.
The control centre is intended to go live in April of next year, and is intended to be processing 50 million number plates a day by year end. ACPO national ANPR co-ordinator John Dean told the Sunday Times that fixed ANPR cameras already exist "at strategic points" on every motorway in the UK, and that the intention was to have "good nationwide coverage within the next 12 months." According to ACPO roads policing head Meredydd Hughes, ANPR systems are planned every 400 yards along motorways, and a trial on the M42 near Birmingham will first be used to enforce variable speed limits, then to 'tackle more serious crime.'
Hughes intends ANPR to go in whenever CCTV systems are installed, and cites the "complete system" around Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield, where every vehicle is checked on the ANPR database, as the model.
The primary aims claimed for the system are tackling untaxed and uninsured vehicles, stolen cars and the considerably broader one of 'denying criminals the use of the roads.' But unless the Times has got the spacing wrong, having one every quarter of a mile on motorways quite clearly means they'll be used to enforce speed limits as well, which would effectively make the current generation of Gatsos obsolete. Otherwise, checking a vehicle's tax and insurance status every 15 seconds or thereabouts would seem overkill.
The major immediate payoffs from the point of view of the police will come via links with other databases. A DVLA project to computerise MoT test centres, thus facilitating the creation of a comprehensive tax database, was originally intended to go into operation early in 2005, but has been subject to repeated delays. And while the Home Office flagged the success of mobile ANPR unit trials earlier this year, claiming increases in arrest rates of up to 1,000 per cent, it failed to mention that the same trial exposed major flaws in the DVLA's existing databases. The police ANPR system is however also being linked to a database of uninsured vehicles, and new offences, and police powers, were announced last week by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling.
Civil liberties trainspotters will share The Register's pleasure at discovering (as revealed here, in the notes to editors) that the Disclosure of Vehicle Insurance Regulations 2005 "were made under powers provided for in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005." The seriousness of untaxed and uninsured vehicles is at the very least a matter of opinion, but 'organised'?
The new offence of keeping a vehicle without insurance criminalises the previously harmless pastime of keeping an uninsured vehicle in a garage and not driving it, and comes on top of the previous breakthrough of criminalising keeping an untaxed vehicle in a garage and not driving it. The latter was dealt with by requiring owners to register the vehicle as off the road via a Statutory Off-Road Notification. The administrative convenience of turning not doing anything wrong into a crime will allow the Government to issue fixed penalty notices for failing to renew insurance on time, while there's also now a fixed penalty for late renewal of tax discs (previously, you could pay in arrears). In both cases the penalties are clearly only going to hit people who've previously been registered with the system. Dealing with the large numbers of entirely unregistered and uninsured vehicles will require real-time alerts and pursuit, and these vehicles will have to be differentiated from the many foreign registered cars on the UK's roads. As it will be a lot easier and cheaper to fine the law-abiding but forgetful than it will be to deal with the hardline serial offenders, we think we can guess which way this one will go.
In addition to the tax and insurance 'benefits', the proposed two year retention period for the "national vehicle movement database" provides police with a potentially powerful resource for surveillance and for future investigations. Vehicles can be 'tailed' remotely, and particular drivers' past movements can be put together far more easily than in the case of CCTV footage (faces, frustratingly, not yet having number plates). One can also see potential in the ability to link ANPR data with CCTV footage of the vehicle, which to some extent would number plate your face (best avoid baseball caps).
And shall we highlight the usefulness of the system in the war on terror before they do? As the recent Metropolitan police document lobbying for detention periods of up to 90 days without charge made clear, the security services' current approach is to move in quickly in response to terror tips, then to sift computers, search homes, and investigate individuals' circumstances and friends in search of actual evidence. Being able to see where they'd been for the last two years as well would be really helpful. Don't worry though - if you haven't done anything wrong you've nothing to fear.
Unless your name comes up in an Algerian security service interrogation... ®


text:
OpenOffice.org 2.0.4 - Don't Blink
Hot Tip From a ReaderThe biggest complaint I, and I think most people, hear is that OpenOffice.org is just plain slow. I would never expect OpenOffice.org - or any office suite, for that matter - to load as fast as Microsoft Office on Windows. And even though I have never been worried about an app taking 30 seconds to load, lots of people seem to gripe if the app doesn't show up almost before they click the icon that launches it. I was recently informed that I should give 2.0.4RC3 a spin to try out its load speed. So I did. An LXer reader who upgraded OpenOffice.org on his Debian GNU/Linux box reported that it was now as fast as any application on his system. At the time, I was using a Windows box I have access to, and grabbed OpenOffice.org's current release candidate. I ran the installation routine and launched the app. As always, the initial load time runs longer than subsequent loads, as you have to initialize templates and so on. Still, it was lightning fast. Just How Fast?By default, the installer sets up OpenOffice.org to run the Quickstarter when you boot into Windows. That slows down the Windows load time somewhat, but speeds up OpenOffice.org noticeably. I generally get by without the preloader, since I prefer seeing Windows go on and load up. Again, I can't type fast enough for 30 seconds to make a difference, so I've never cared whether OpenOffice.org loaded instantaneously or not. Well, it really doesn't matter all that much now. Enough blathering, Don. Just tell us how fast it loads already! Well, all I can say is, don't blink. That's right. If you're of the opinion that OpenOffice.org is slow-as-molasses bloatware, let me just say it's about the fastest molasses I've ever seen. Point. Click. Boom! Even without the preloader, it's still pretty darned fast. It seems to load in less than 2 seconds on a WinXP box with a 3Ghz Pentium chip and 512MB RAM. If OpenOffice.org is any slower than Microsoft Office, it's only by half a blip. In fact, I loaded both at once, first clicking on MS Word, then on OOWriter, in my task tray. OOWriter came up first. Trying it the other way, Word still loses out to Writer. I suspect your mileage will vary some, but OpenOffice.org is still quick as a whip. Bug EliminatedWith the current version of OpenOffice.org (2.0.3), I have experienced some pretty annoying crashes, mainly when going between Calc and Base. Indeed, one of the members of the OpenOffice.org DBA mailing list reported seeing my crash reports, and that they helped solve at least one or two bugs almost immediately. So I attempted the copy and paste routine that caused the big hassle before, and it worked. I had suspected there was a problem with my attempt to paste over 600 rows of Calc data into a new table in Base. After reducing the number of rows selected by an order of magnitude, I found I was still experiencing issues. Also, it didn't matter whether I was using Ubuntu or Windows XP, it just crashed. Whatever the problem, the OpenOffice.org team seems to have corrected it in the 2.0.4 release. Between the speed boost and eliminating a serious hassle, it looks like the OpenOffice.org folks have really put some effort into grinding away at the stranglehold their biggest competitor seems to have. I'm sure they have resolved a number of other issues, but I haven't experienced too many problems with OpenOffice.org myself. What I do know is that, by the time you finish loading MS Word, which only runs on two operating systems, I'll already be done with my first paragraph - and I type slow. Footnotes, Links, etc.Thanks to LXer regular, jimf, for the tip! |
Subject | Topic Starter | Replies | Views | Last Post |
That is great to hear. | dsTst | 15 | 2,867 | Oct 8, 2006 9:11 PM |
Bilingual text editing | lsatenstein | 8 | 2,785 | Oct 8, 2006 8:54 AM |
You cannot post until you login.


text:
What will I receive each month?
Each month you will receive 2 different bottles of hand-crafted, hard to find wine from around the World. Also you will receive our club newsletter "Wine Expeditions". You will receive your shipment by the 3rd or 4th week of each month. What are some examples of the wine I may receive? We focus on selections that are produced in small quantities and hard to find. Examples are: Nantucket?s Sauvignon Blanc from the U.S., Maletti Lambrusco DI Sorbara from Italy, Agulhas Bank Chardonnay from South Africa, River Falls Cabernet Sauvignon from Chili, First Run Shiraz from Australia and Casal Mendes Vinho Verde from Portugal. How is the wine packaged? To prevent breakage we package the wine in special styrofoam packaging. How is the wine shipped? We deliver the wine thru our network via a Common Carrier. We prefer a daytime office address to ensure timely delivery. You must be 21 or older to receive a wine shipment. An adult signature over 21 is required. Can I choose the wine I receive? No, all the wines are pre-selected for you. Each wine is carefully judged and approved by our tasting panel. You can re-order a list of past selections at discounted prices from our Shoppers Guide. Can I get only red wines? or Can I get only white wines? Yes - You can request All Red or All White or Mixed club selections when you order. There is no extra charge for this. Where do the wines come from? They will come from around the world from countries such as: Australia, Chile, Argentina, Portugal, New Zealand, United States and Italy. (Many come from very small award-winning wineries.) How do I store the wine? Wine should be stored on it?s side in a cool, dark place. The temperature should be constant all year round (preferable under 60 F and humidity over 75%. Opened bottles of wine will only keep up to a week in the refrigerator. What temperature should wine be at when I drink it? White wines should be served cool to avoid a dull flavor. Red wine should be served warm to enhance the flavor. (If served cold, the scent and flavor is dull). Your refrigerator temperature is around 35F. We recommend white wine be served within the first 10 minutes out of the refrigerator. Red wine should be served much warmer (room temp. about 60-65F.) |


text:
The widespread possession of knives amongst youths is yet another failure of the Home Office, and it appears to be doing little to stop them being sold, other than high-profile initiatives such as the knife amnesty - which only came after the tragic stabbing of Kiyan Prince.
Recent Home Office figures show that no-one has had a custodial sentence for selling knives since 1997, and only nine were arrested for the offence in 2004 - six of whom got off with a fine.
Most knife-carriers are 16 year old boys doing it for their image, although Norman Brennan - a police officer and founder of the Victims of Crime Trust - wants automatic sentences of five years for people carrying knives bigger than three inches without good reason.
Last week David Davis said that:
"Knife crime is a serious problem. A quarter of twelve to sixteen-year-olds have admitted to carrying knives and for each and every gun crime death there are three stabbings. We believe there must be tougher sentences for people carrying knives."
The Conservatives proposed an amendment to the Violent Crime Reduction Bill to raise the maximum sentence for selling a knife to an under-16 to five years but it was rejected by Ministers. They are raising the age to 18 but there is no indication they will enforce that more effectively than the status quo.
Deputy Editor


text:
"The desire of knowledge . . . is intended . . . to raise our thoughts to higher and higher objects more and more worthy of our consideration,till we ascend to the source of all knowledge,and all excellence, the all wise, and all gracious Creator." — John Wesley, 1703-1791
John Wesley, the namesake of our college and the founder of the Methodist movement, was one of the most educated men of his time. Today's United Methodist Church was founded in 1968 with the union of The Methodist Church and The Evangelical United Brethren Church and traces its roots to the ministry of John Wesley in England.
A 1727 graduate of Oxford University, Wesley was passionate about the value of education and encouraged people to live with "knowledge and vital piety."
Inspired by Wesley's passion, early Kentucky Methodists founded Kentucky Wesleyan College in 1858 "for the promotion of literature, science, morality and religion."
According to the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church (GBHEM), "United Methodist-related institutions are committed to academic excellence within the context of a caring community where students are both nurtured and challenged to reach their full potential."
KWC is one of 123 colleges, universities and schools related to the United Methodist Church in America today. We value our rich Methodist heritage and the church's emphasis on quality education.
We are committed to Christian unity. Through the support of the Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, a full-time chaplain coordinates Campus Ministries and serves as a spiritual advisor to the college community. Our Campus Ministries is ecumenical and provides shared opportunities for people of all Christian faiths.
Students who choose to participate in Kentucky Wesleyan College Campus Ministries have opportunities to grow in their faith, connect with others as they serve God together and reach out in acts of service and witness around the world.


text:
Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., 20540-4730
For a larger reference image, click on the picture. For an uncompressed tiff or higher resolution jpeg image, click on the "retrieve ..." link. For full caption/reproduction information, click on the caption. (This will take you to a catalog record in the Prints and Photographs Online Catalog; you will need to use the "back up" function on your browser to return to this screen.)


text:
Skip to Main Content
How Do I...
Notify Me
Notify Me
Type your email address in the box and select
Sign In
If you want to receive text messages enter your phone number and select
To subscribe or unsubscribe click
next to the lists to which you wish to subscribe/unsubscribe.
Notify Me
Alert Center
Bid Postings
Please sign in to subscribe, unsubscribe, or manage your subscriptions
Email Address
Notify Me Sign In
Sign Out
Your Profile Information
Email Address
I prefer to receive HTML emails when available
I would like to be able to receive text messages on my mobile phone
Phone Number
Ex: 555-555-0123. Standard text messaging rates apply.
Unsubscribe from All Lists
How did you hear about this service?
Save Profile Information
Notify Me
List Name
Board and Commission Meeting Agendas
Building and Code Administration
To receive Building & Code Administration News and Updates. Useful for Design Professionals and Contractors.
Castaway Cove Water Park
Join in the exciting family fun of Castaway Cove! Sign up here for the latest news on special events, concerts, movie nights, season passes and more. Castaway Cove is THE place for summer fun in North Texas!
City Map Books
To receive notification of changes to the City's Map Books including new streets, etc.
City Newsletter
The City of Wichita Falls has added the monthly electronic newsletter, "City News," to its communications tools in an effort to keep the public up-to-date on City services and activities. The newsletter will cover every City department and division and provide valuable tips on how to access and use City services, report on current and proposed improvement projects, list meeting dates for the City Council and many other topics. Citizens can even submit comments and questions that they feel need to be addressed or heard.
City Press Releases
To receive a copy of all press releases issued by the Public Information Office of the City.
City Standards
City Engineer approved City Standards
Community Development Newsletter
Keep up-to-date on the latest news from the City's Community Development Department which includes Building Inspections, Planning, Code Enforcement, Property Administration, Housing and Neighborhood Resources. The free newsletter will cover a wide range of topics important to City residents and business owners.
Council Agenda
Sign up to receive notification that a new agenda has been posted.
DARE News and Updates
Downtown Revitalization Initiatives
Receive information regarding public meetings, updates and other information related to Downtown Vacant Structure Registration, Property Maintenance Code and Zoning Alignment
Emergency Email Notification
You will be notified of emergency situations in Wichita Falls and given details as to what you should and should not be doing in response to the emergency.
Events Calendar
Receive the City's monthly events calendar for activities taking place throughout the City.
Fire Safety Tips
Fire safety in and around the home.
Health District
Receive the latest news and updates from the Wichita Falls Wichita County Health District.
Neighborhood Revitalization
Receive information regarding public meetings, updates and other information related to the City's Neighborhood Revitalization initiatives.
Other Meetings
Posted meeting agendas other than City Council and Board and Commission Meetings.
Planning & Zoning Commission Agendas
Notification will be provided for the monthly Planning and Zoning Commission Meetings and the Cases being reviewed.
Recreation Special Events
To receive a notification of recreation special events conducted by the City such as summer programs, Halloween and Christmas programs.
Type A WFEDC Board Meeting Agenda
Type B Sales Tax Board Meeting Agenda
Water Restrictions and News Updates
The City of Wichita Falls will at times experience a drop in lake levels that affects the amount of water available for processing for the use of citizens and businesses. In order to keep everyone informed of current drought levels and water restrictions citizens are encouraged to sign up for the Water Restrictions and News Updates that will be sent under this topic.
Alert Center
List Name
2020 Census
City Closures
Fire Department
Notice of Public Hearings
Notice is hereby given that the City of Wichita Falls City Council will conduct a public hearings.
Road Closures
Severe Weather
Bid Postings
List Name
Construction Services
Construction services for construction projects.
Environmental Services
Environmental remediation, lead removal, underground storage tank removal, demolition, asbestos removal and other related services.
Fuel / Lubricants
Unleaded gasoline, diesel fuel, various oils for operation and maintenance of all sized vehicles.
Heavy Equipment
Vehicle types including but not limited to loaders, backhoes, compactors, tractors, and excavators.
Information Technology
For new equipment, services, etc. for our information technology department which has to do with software, hardware, and so on.
Office Supplies and Equipment
This includes copier paper, furniture, faxes, and so on.
Parks & Recreation Equipment and Services
Goods and services for parks, pools, golf courses, recreation center and other recreation facilities.
Professional Services
Consulting and financial services including architects, engineers, landscape architects and surveyors.
Public Safety
Goods and services related to the operations of the Fire and Police Departments.
Public Works
Goods and services related to the operation of the Street, Sanitation, Water, and Wastewater Divisions.
Surplus Equipment & Salvage Material
Vehicles, equipment, and miscellaneous materials.
Traffic Engineering
Street marking material, traffic signals, street signs, lamps, luminaires and other goods or services related to the operation of Traffic Control.
All vehicle types including but not limited to sedans, fire trucks, snow trucks, and other light and heavy trucks.
List Name
Animal Services
Keep up with any special activities that Animal Services may be hosting or have adoptable animals on site.
Finance Budget Calendar
Public Meetings
Live Edit
Accessibility & Accommodations
Bid Results
Current Bids
Surplus Equipment for Auction
Vendor Verification Policy
Vendor Application
Arrow Left
Arrow Right
Slideshow Left Arrow
Slideshow Right Arrow


text:
The most recent revolution in the steel sheet piling industry started in 2004 with the initial version of the AZ 38 700. It was the first 700 mm wide hot rolled Z-section that instantly made his way into the sheet piling market. 14% of weight reduction, reduced installation time due to its high width, higher stiffness,… to name only a few assets compared to the previous AZ 38. This innovative sheet pile definitely contributed to the execution of more and more cost-efficient sheet piling structures in the higher range of section modulus.
January 2008 was another milestone for this profile. Owing to its success, especially for driving into dense soils, the demand largely exceeded the production capacity of the mill in Belval, Luxembourg. As a consequence of the feedback received from our customers, a new improved shape was launched: the AZ 39-700. A similar geometry, but with an increased web thickness and with a hint of 'reinforced shoulders'. This minor change of the shape lead to two striking advantages: superior driveability properties, and higher productivity at the mill.
The last chapter of this continuous enhancement will occur in 2011, introducing the AZ 38 700N. A new calibration of the rolling process at the mill allows the manufacturing of this stiffer section, with much thicker 'reinforced shoulders', just like the AZ 48. The ultimate edition of this profile is the final stage of the development of this section and will undoubtedly denote a landmark for the future.
The AZ 38-700N will be available for shipment by the second quarter of 2011.
Click on the picture of the flyer above to download the electronic file (.pdf version)
For more information, feel free to contact our worldwide sales department.
Released on 14 January 2011


text:
Featured Products
Kaufman Sheet Metal and Fabrication, the INVENTORS of the ORIGINAL SNOW SCOOP (the BEST SNOW SHOVEL) and SHARK TOOTH WATER RAKE!
We've been in business for over 60 years, and we're still growing! We have over 100,000 satisfied customers! A few people have tried to copy our hand-crafted snow scoop/shovel design. However, with years of experience, our artisans have created a snow scoop product that is unmatched anywhere in the country and is considered the best snow shovel.
Our SHARK TOOTH WATER WEED RAKE is great for Waterfront Home Owners and Businesses. The Shark Tooth Water Weed Rake will help you control your pond weeds, lake weeds and aquatic weeds. They are being used by Golf Courses, Marinas, and City Parks Departments across the country.
Our SNOW SCOOPS and ROOF RAKES are great for Home and for your Business. They are being used at SKI HILLS around the world and have been used at past WINTER OLYMPICS!
Contact Us
Kaufman Custom
Sheet Metal & Fabrication
For Product Sales, Support,
and Questions:
Custom Work
400 W. Aurora St
Ironwood, MI 49938
Tel: 906-932-2130
Mon-Fri: 7-3:30pm
Saturday: 8-12


text:
ultimately I am looking to insert some info into a database. So I'm trying to output a file from something (probably nmap) that is formatted like this:
I do not HAVE to get the date from the nmap scan but it would be helpful. I can add it when I insert the data into the DB.
I'm pretty sure that nmap can do this along with some grep, awk, and sed foo, but those things aren't my strongest points.
EDIT: I'm open to suggestions about output formats.. XML? I need to run this daily (give or take) and import the results to MySQL
EDIT2: I've gotten this far;
nmap -sn -oG - 192.168.0.50-100 | grep Host | awk '{print $2","$5","$3}'
Which gives me this:
Next; Can I remove the parens? add the date? Nmap always says what time it starts and finishes but it doesn't include that on each line... so I can't grab it w/ the awk statement.


text:
Shaquille O'Neal's ex-wife says a former friend of the NBA star tried selling her a copy of what he claims is a sex tape featuring Shaq with various other women.
A rep for Shaunie O'Neal tells TMZ ... the man making the sex tape claims, Robert Ross, set up a meeting with Shaunie back when she had split from Shaq ... and offered to sell her the tape. Ross claims the tape shows Shaq with other women while he was still with Shaunie.
Ross claims Shaq would bring women to Ross' home and a security camera captured the action.
Shaunie says she never saw any footage -- and can't confirm if it actually exists -- but says she turned Ross down flat because she "wanted nothing to do with it."
TMZ broke the story ... Ross claims he was later kidnapped and attacked by 7 gang members -- including the leader who was friends with Shaq -- who were after the tape. The 7 men are currently on trial for kidnapping and various other charges. Ross testified in the ongoing preliminary hearing that the men threatened to kill him if he didn't fork over the tape. He claims the tape was erased.
Shaunie says she doesn't believe Ross's story ... because he's a "liar" who falsely claimed he and Shaunie had a romantic relationship after she separated from Shaq.
A rep for Shaq had no comment.


text:
An online appendix to my 2000 book Reinventing Comics, "I Can't Stop Thinking" provided a forum for ongoing speculations about digital comics.
Click on any of the thumbnails at left (or the links below) to open an episode in a new window.
ICST #1: Intro to ICST and "The HTML Blues."
ICST #2: "The 99.9% Solution" - Diversity Online.
ICST #3: "10 Suggestions for First-Time WebComics Artists"
ICST #4: "Follow that Trail!"
ICST #5: "Coins of the Realm" Part One.
ICST #6: "Coins of the Realm" Part Two.
This stuff is really OLD and in many cases, no longer relevant. If one year equals seven in "internet time," you're looking at a 56 year-old comic, so apply any ideas you find here with caution. Some were controversial too. #5 and #6 nearly got me burned at the stake until I tried a micropayments system myself and failed a few years back, rendering me (mostly) harmless again.


text:
Mercedes-Benz Unveils 2014 C63 AMG Edition 507
507-hp coupe and sedan revealed.
While most AMG Mercedes-Benz cars use turbochargers to make their eye-popping horsepower numbers, the C63 AMG is one of only three models to make its power without forced induction. In case you thought the C63 AMG engine's future was unclear, AMG just released a new special edition C63 that uses some engineering witchcraft to tune the 6.2-liter V-8 all the way up to 507 horsepower.
The car is, predictably, called the "Edition 507," a nod to the fact that it makes 507 ponies and 450 lb-ft of torque. For those keeping score at home, that's exactly 56 more horsepower than the stock C63 AMG coupe, which makes an already impressive 451 hp. It's also 26 hp more than the current-model-year C63 AMG with the $6050 AMG Development Package, which ups the power output to 481 hp and the top speed to 174 mph. The Development Package is going away for the 2014 model year, to be replaced by Edition 507.
That 507 horsepower comes from a beast of an engine: it's AMG's M156, a 6208-cc V-8 (commonly referred to as a 6.3-liter). For the Edition 507, AMG adds forged pistons like the ones fitted to the SLS AMG, new connecting rods, and a lighter crankshaft. The result is an engine with 6.6 fewer pounds of rotational mass.
Because the Edition 507 replaces this year's Development Package, it also includes that package's other goodies. They include 19-inch tires (235-section fronts, 255-section rears) and lightweight alloy wheels, an aluminum hood with two new cooling grilles like on the C63 AMG Black Series, and a top speed of 174 mph. As with the Development Package, the Edition 507 car also includes an upgraded brake system that includes lightweight discs (14.2 inches up front), six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, and a different friction compound for the pads. The calipers, predictably, are painted red. To make sure that drivers know how to harness the car's performance, Mercedes-Benz is including a voucher for the AMG Driving Academy with every Edition 507 sold.
On the inside, Mercedes offers a selection of porcelain or black design leather with Dinamica microfiber inserts, and the steering wheel is covered in Alcantara with contrast stitching. The dials have red appliqués, and the trim pieces are finished in piano black. As with almost all special edition cars, there's a special Edition 507 badge on the passenger's side trim.
While we do know that the Edition 507 package will be available on the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG sedan or coupe, and we know that the cars will go on sale this summer, we haven't heard how much they will cost. We expect that they'll ring in slightly above the current cars ($68,380 for a Coupe with the Development Package, $65,850 for the Sedan with the Development Package), so a $70,000 price tag wouldn't be out of the question.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
MotorTrend Recommended Stories
Trending Pages
The Great 8: Who Will Win the Ridler Award at the 2024 Detroit Autorama?
Writing the Tesla Code That Helped Spur a Revolution
Honda's Downshifting From a Hardware-Based To a Software-Defined Approach
China's Xpeng Motors Is Taking on Tesla By Embracing Change
1953 Chevrolet Corvette, Built By Kindig-It Design, Wins Ridler Award at the 2024 Detroit Autorama


text:
Hit one of my first major hurdles for Tapestry 5 this morning: class reloading. Tapestry 5 periodically scans .class files to see if they have changed, and will clear caches and discard class loaders so that it can process the changes. I've finally gotten the code base to a point where I can demonstrate this and it works. And it's fast!
This is a huge productivity win: you change your classes and see the changes immediately. No restart, no redeploy. The same logic works for templates and other resources (you make the change, you see the change).
Speed is excellent; obviously, I have only a tiny fraction of Tapestry 5 implemented, and the page I'm using is very trivial (just a single component). However, even on my laptop, and with all debugging output enabled, refresh is instant.
By the way, here's my page template:
  <title>First Tapestry 5 Page</title>
 This is the First Tapestry 5 Page, ever!.

 Output from HelloWorld component: <t:comp id="foo" type="HelloWorld"/>
 `
And here's the HelloWorld component:
package org.apache.tapestry.integration.app1.components; import org.apache.tapestry.MarkupWriter; import org.apache.tapestry.annotations.ComponentClass; import org.apache.tapestry.annotations.RenderTag; @ComponentClass public class HelloWorld { @RenderTag void renderMessage(MarkupWriter writer) { writer.write("I Am HelloWorld"); } }
I need to do more experimentation; my environment is Eclipse 3.1.2 + Jetty (4) + JettyLauncher plugin. There's ample opportunity for the servlet container to screw us, in terms of their class loaders getting in the way (not showing file changes). Lots of people seem to use the Sydeo Tomcat plugin as well, so I need to check that.


text:
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB or Board) sets policy for the Department of Natural Resources and exercises authority and responsibility in accordance with governing state laws.
Board member biographies and contact information provide detailed information about each Board member.
Meeting agendas are posted 2 weeks prior to each meeting in both web and PDF formats. The PDF is the official meeting agenda.
Briefs of Action (BOAs) are summaries of motions and votes at each Board meeting. The draft brief of action is usually on the next meeting agenda for action. As of April 2013, the brief of action and webcast serve as the official meeting record.
Webcasts of Board meetings are streamed live and are available on demand. All regular Board meetings between 2010 and October 2012 are audio only with some special presentations in video. Some Board webcasts from December 2012 to February 2013 are slide and audio. As of March 2013, all webcasts are video. As of April 2013, the brief of action and webcast serve as the official Board meeting record.
The Board calendar lists upcoming meetings. The Board meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month in January, February, May, June, September, and October. The Board meets on the second Wednesday in April, August, and December. The Board does not have regular scheduled meetings in March, July, and November. Typically, each year the Board holds 3 meetings throughout the state in summer months and 6 meetings at the DNR Building in Madison.
The public is welcome to attend any Natural Resources Board meeting unless it is noticed as a closed or executive session. The Board welcomes public input. Citizens may appear at Board meetings or submit written comments about issues that come before the Board. See complete information about public participation at Natural Resources Board meetings
Meeting minutes were discontinued by the Board as of March 2013. As of April 2013, the brief of action and webcast serve as the official meeting record. Board minutes from 1999 to 2013 will continue to be posted and available to the public.
General DNR information
The DNR Call Center can help you with questions or information about licenses, hunting regulations and seasons, state parks and forests, and other DNR issues. The Call Center is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
- Contact information
- For NRB-related questions, information requests, written comment submittal, or registration to speak at an NRB meeting or listening session, please contact:
- NRB Liaison
PO Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921 - The Natural Resources Board and Department of Natural Resources are committed to serving people with disabilities. If you need Board information in an alternative format, please email or call the Board Liaison.


text:
Active Discovery on the Danube – Cruise Only Westbound
This exciting new 8-day vacation introduces you to the people and places along the Danube from Budapest to Linz in the most active, engaged and fun ways imaginable. Start your vacation in Hungary's capital city where you board your Avalon ship and head for Visegrad. The choice is always yours: attend a medieval knights' tournament in Visegrad; take a jogging tour around Vienna, or visit the city when it first awakes; meet with a local produce grower in the Wachau Valley, or paddle a canoe; be introduced to a count in his castle; bike to an ancient border defense near Mauthausen or visit World War II's largest concentration camp; taste locally produced cheese and beer brewed by Trappist monks near Linz, or hike along an old smugglers' route. And all the while enjoy the comfort of your Avalon ship, with its delectable meals and warm, personal service. Certainly your home from home while you explore your new surroundings every day.
City Highlights
Cruise: deluxe 7-night cruise in an outside stateroom with Avalon's exclusive Comfort Collection BedsSMDay 1 Budapest (Embarkation)–Scenic Cruising Around Danube Bend–Visegrad: choice of walking tour with language lesson, guided bike tour, or city sightseeing tour; onboard welcome reception; scenic cruising around the Danube BendDay 2 Visegrad: in Visegrad, choice of medieval knights tournament or guided hiking in Danube-Ipoly National ParkDays 3 & 4 Vienna: choice of bike tour, jogging tour, encounter with area business people, or city sightseeing tour with visit of Belvedere Palace to see Klimt's Kiss; choice of early riser walking tour with breakfast at a Viennese café and entrance to Habsburg private art collection at the Museum of Fine Arts; Habsburg collection entrance with time in the Italian & Dutch Masters Gallery; or Habsburg collection entrance with Military Museum visitDay 5 Krems–Wachau Valley & Strudengau Scenic Cruising–Grein: choice of canoe tour down the Danube; bike tour from Spitz to Krems with sightseeing in Dürnstein and chance to sample local specialties; Wine World Experience with tasting; or local encounter showcasing regional products with included snack and beverage; scenic cruising through Wachau Valley, Strudengau, and past Melk Abbey; castle visit in Grein Day 6 Grein–Mauthausen–Linz: guided walk in Grein, visit the historical theater; in Mauthausen, choice of visit to St. Florian Monastery, guided tour of Mauthausen Concentration Camp, or guided bike tour; onboard tasting of local specialtiesDay 7 Engelhartszell–Schlögen Oxbow Scenic Cruising–Linz: choice of visit to Engelszell Abbey to tour its brewery, enjoy a tasting, and explore its sensory garden, or guided hiking tour to retrace the WWII smugglers route; choice of scenic cruising around the Schlögen Oxbow or guided hike on the Danube Trail; onboard gala farewell dinnerDay 8 Linz (Disembarkation): your vacation ends this morning
Captain's welcome & farewell receptions with sparkling wine and canapésWelcome dinnerDaily Afternoon TeaDaily Night FareFarewell dinnerComplimentary sparkling wine with breakfast; wine, beer, or soft drinks with lunch and dinner are included daily on board your vessel
NOTES:In the event of water level problems or any problems of a technical nature, it may be necessary to operate the itinerary by motorcoach or to alter the program.Included visits and special features are subject to change. If a change becomes necessary, a substitute will be offered.Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); the responsibility for obtaining a visa rests with the traveler.


text:
Animal Wildlife | Fin Whale | The fin whale is a large marine mammal that is found throughout ocean waters worldwide. The fin whale is the second largest whale in the world behind the blue whale, and also the second largest animal on Earth (obviously after the blue whale again). The fin whale has a long and slender body which can grow to lengths of more than 20 meters. The body of the fin whale is generally blue or grey in colour and slighter lighter on the underside of the fin whale.
There are two different species of fin whale which are the Northern fin whale and the Antarctic fin whale. As their names suggest, the Northern fin whale is generally found in the Northern Hemisphere and the Antarctic fin whale, in the Southern Hemisphere. Both fin whale species are very similar in appearance but the Antarctic fin whale tends to be larger in size than the Northern fin whale. Fin whales are found in both cold and tropical waters around the world, although they are most commonly found in the more temperate regions.
The fin whale is a carnivorous animal, that feeds by filtering food out of the water using the specially designed plates in its mouth (like a blue whale). The fin whale eats fish, krill, plankton, squid and crustaceans by simply opening its enormous mouth and swimming at faster speeds. Due to its sheer size, the fin whale has no real predators within its natural environment as ocean predators simply don't compare in size. Humans are the greatest threat to the fin whale, as they have been hunted over the years to near extinction. The new-born fin whale calves are also sometimes attacked by large sharks.
Fin whales breed in the cold winter months, after which the female fin whales migrate south to the warmer, safer waters where she can nurse her young. The fin whale calf is born after a gestation period last is nearly a year long, and feeds on his mothers milk until he is around 7 months old and able to start hunting in the water.
Tags: depressed whale, whale oil skimmer, a whale skimmer, whale mail, whale checks, whale vagina, whale watching deals, whale watching maryland, whale watching packages, whale watching warrnambool, whale watching oceanside, whale watching cairns, whale watching discounts, whale birthday invitations, oceanside whale watching, montauk whale watching, whale watching alaska, juneau whale watching